Breaking News: Stories from Larry Bird that demonstrate why he’s a better trash talker
When analyzing basketball, there are several facets in which a single player might stand out and be regarded as the best. Everybody always remembers one guy when a specific component is discussed, whether it be playing defense, making three-pointers, or dunking the ball. Now, nobody is quite like the Boston Celtics star Larry Bird when it comes to the skill of trash-talking opponents and supporting it on the court.
Not only did the Hick from French Lick have uncanny scoring skills, but he also tried to humiliate or even demoralize you while scoring, which made him a nightmare to guard. While there are several tales of Bird punishing the opposition players mercilessly, his Boston colleague Robert Parish remembered a particularly memorable incident in which Larry was so sure of himself that he asserted that only the All-Powerful God could protect him.
“One thing you have to give Larry Bird credit for is that no matter how hot or cold he got, he never stopped spewing trash! In the past ever!” Parish disclosed in the Showtime podcast episode featuring Michael Cooper.
The player who got himself “caught” at the wrong time and place was 6-foot-10 forward Tom Chambers. It was not an easy chore to play against Larry Legend at the height of his powers, and you know you are in for a treat when he opens the game spouting outright trash.
Parish did not name the specific game he was referring to, but using the technique of elimination, we can clearly suggest that Chambers was at the height of his abilities during the two years between 1988 and 1990 while playing for the Suns, having been selected to the All-NBA second team twice in a row. Larry, meantime, continued to do Larry things. Over those two years, the C’s legend averaged 28.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and
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